I Corinthians 9:1-27
9:1 Paul delves into the spiritual responsibility of his position as an apostle. Made free through his acceptance and promotion of divine wisdom and compassion, Paul was restrained by no thing or person. The productivity of Paul's life was (and is) evidenced by how incredibly his message abounded, reaching even into and beyond this generation which we currently live.
9:2 To people who have no acknowledgement of focus on spirit, it may appear that Paul is an unfocused vagrant. Yet by those who hear and become established in faith by his message, it is known that Paul's work is the most crucial and influential to be done.
Faith and spirituality often exist only in the periphery of people's minds and lives, descended in rank by the superficial affairs and occurrences of people's day-to-day. Despite that people might not relate to or even understand Paul's passion, the worth of his life is promoting spirituality among humanity. Likewise should we pursue our passion when it is fueled by compassion.
We become distracted; we take detours away from our faith in the false belief that our attention is needed or tempted elsewhere. Yet every joy is absorbed thoroughly through faith and every fear, through faith, is conquered. If Paul were concerned about the opinion of others, he would have become quietly fearful and too discouraged to do the work which changed the world. The challenges of our lives are growth spurts and we allow ourselves the natural evolution of our spirits, the pain of challenge is replaced by a wiser, more agile version of who we are.
Nobody needs to certify you in order for you and your work and influence in the world to be valuable. Paul's apostleship was sealed because of the good work that he had done. God established him, as well as each of us, on this earth with purpose if we choose to accept it. Our own acceptance of our value here on earth is the only certification we need; our creator has loved and provided, enabled us to live and work without permission or validation from others.
9:3 Paul addresses judgement and although his situation is likely quite different from ours, we are all familiar with the road blocks of others' judgement on our actions.
9:4-6 Judgement is surmountable when we ask ourselves the same question: "Don't I have the right...?" For Paul, he defends himself against people who do not believe he is working for a living because they do not understand his work. He defends his right to have a family, a spiritual co-pilot so to speak.
The easiest and simultaneously hardest thing we can do is defend ourselves with our own reason and wisdom. Always be aware of your rights as a human being. If your work is productive and compassionate no condemnation of it can be justifiable.
9:7-10 It is justifiable to support yourself through your work. Paul speaks specifically about apostleship and ministry, paving the way for teachers of God's word in the future to live off of their labor if they so choose.
9:11-14 Paul is speaking to the hypocrites, people who also live off of their own labor but judge Paul for possibly doing the same. Yet Paul did not accept payment for his apostleship so as not to taint the message.
9:15 Like many of God's children, it is Paul's greatest honor to promote God's word freely. It is the joy of his life to share spiritual wisdom.
9:16-18 Paul wants us to understand that he teaches because he is passionate about the truth and comfort of his message rather than because it is a job. It is reward for him to labor spiritually for God without payment because without payment Paul received so much from God. For Paul, spirituality is not a job it is a lifestyle, it is everything.
9:2 To people who have no acknowledgement of focus on spirit, it may appear that Paul is an unfocused vagrant. Yet by those who hear and become established in faith by his message, it is known that Paul's work is the most crucial and influential to be done.
Faith and spirituality often exist only in the periphery of people's minds and lives, descended in rank by the superficial affairs and occurrences of people's day-to-day. Despite that people might not relate to or even understand Paul's passion, the worth of his life is promoting spirituality among humanity. Likewise should we pursue our passion when it is fueled by compassion.
We become distracted; we take detours away from our faith in the false belief that our attention is needed or tempted elsewhere. Yet every joy is absorbed thoroughly through faith and every fear, through faith, is conquered. If Paul were concerned about the opinion of others, he would have become quietly fearful and too discouraged to do the work which changed the world. The challenges of our lives are growth spurts and we allow ourselves the natural evolution of our spirits, the pain of challenge is replaced by a wiser, more agile version of who we are.
Nobody needs to certify you in order for you and your work and influence in the world to be valuable. Paul's apostleship was sealed because of the good work that he had done. God established him, as well as each of us, on this earth with purpose if we choose to accept it. Our own acceptance of our value here on earth is the only certification we need; our creator has loved and provided, enabled us to live and work without permission or validation from others.
9:3 Paul addresses judgement and although his situation is likely quite different from ours, we are all familiar with the road blocks of others' judgement on our actions.
9:4-6 Judgement is surmountable when we ask ourselves the same question: "Don't I have the right...?" For Paul, he defends himself against people who do not believe he is working for a living because they do not understand his work. He defends his right to have a family, a spiritual co-pilot so to speak.
The easiest and simultaneously hardest thing we can do is defend ourselves with our own reason and wisdom. Always be aware of your rights as a human being. If your work is productive and compassionate no condemnation of it can be justifiable.
9:7-10 It is justifiable to support yourself through your work. Paul speaks specifically about apostleship and ministry, paving the way for teachers of God's word in the future to live off of their labor if they so choose.
9:11-14 Paul is speaking to the hypocrites, people who also live off of their own labor but judge Paul for possibly doing the same. Yet Paul did not accept payment for his apostleship so as not to taint the message.
9:15 Like many of God's children, it is Paul's greatest honor to promote God's word freely. It is the joy of his life to share spiritual wisdom.
9:16-18 Paul wants us to understand that he teaches because he is passionate about the truth and comfort of his message rather than because it is a job. It is reward for him to labor spiritually for God without payment because without payment Paul received so much from God. For Paul, spirituality is not a job it is a lifestyle, it is everything.
9:19 Paul devotes his soul and life to humanity in the hope that he reach multitudes of people. Rather than live for himself, Paul found value in living for others. Value in leading people into the light and comfort of divine wisdom.
9:20-23 Paul has selflessly adapted to all cultures and environments so that he could be understood by them. A child of God is adaptable in such a way that through their enhanced perception, they can relate to all people, regardless of diversity. We find kinship with all people, we view the world as best we can from their perspective and we seek to love and understand them in order to give to them our best selves.
9:20-23 Paul has selflessly adapted to all cultures and environments so that he could be understood by them. A child of God is adaptable in such a way that through their enhanced perception, they can relate to all people, regardless of diversity. We find kinship with all people, we view the world as best we can from their perspective and we seek to love and understand them in order to give to them our best selves.
9:24 Life advice from Paul: practice and cultivate self-disciple. As purposefully placed components of this earth, it is our blessing to accept that we have work here to do. Paul wishes for us to fully absorb life, to awaken to the thriving miracle and possibility around us. To run, to live life as though it is the most precious thing to ever exist, to ever have... because it is. Life allows for love and when we realize its potential, we should run purposefully toward it always.
9:25 Dedicate yourself to life as you would some tedious competition in the world. Paul wants you to compete for life, for love, for wisdom, for eternity. How do you do so? You live with purpose. With focus. You appreciate the value of every moment and interaction between self, Spirit, person and idea.
9:26 Do not waste your own time. Do not waste opportunity for yourself or others; you have the potential to change lives, awaken to that blessed chance, that purpose given specifically to you. What are you running toward? What is the focus of your life? Choose a focus, create. Be productive. Determination is a salve for the lethargic soul. Awaken to live.
9:27 Paul never stops preparing himself to be better, more focused, more productive. He never settles, he accepts room for infinite self-growth. What is the prize? The prize is life. Strive for it always. Life for yourself, life for others and nature. Paul is never lazy or distracted by contentment, he is always reaching higher, walking further, speaking longer and louder. Be productive in your passion, value the possibilities of your life.
9:25 Dedicate yourself to life as you would some tedious competition in the world. Paul wants you to compete for life, for love, for wisdom, for eternity. How do you do so? You live with purpose. With focus. You appreciate the value of every moment and interaction between self, Spirit, person and idea.
9:26 Do not waste your own time. Do not waste opportunity for yourself or others; you have the potential to change lives, awaken to that blessed chance, that purpose given specifically to you. What are you running toward? What is the focus of your life? Choose a focus, create. Be productive. Determination is a salve for the lethargic soul. Awaken to live.
9:27 Paul never stops preparing himself to be better, more focused, more productive. He never settles, he accepts room for infinite self-growth. What is the prize? The prize is life. Strive for it always. Life for yourself, life for others and nature. Paul is never lazy or distracted by contentment, he is always reaching higher, walking further, speaking longer and louder. Be productive in your passion, value the possibilities of your life.
